Open AccessDifferential expression and regulation of integral membrane protein 2b in rat male reproductive tissues
Author(s) -
Rengaraj Deivendran,
Liang XiaoHuan,
Gao Fei,
Deng WenBo,
Mills Nathaniel,
Yang ZengMing
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
asian journal of andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1745-7262
pISSN - 1008-682X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2008.00360.x
Subject(s) - vas deferens , epididymis , medicine , endocrinology , testosterone (patch) , leydig cell , castration , andrology , biology , luteinizing hormone , sperm , hormone
Aim: To examine the expression and regulation of integral membrane protein 2b (Itm2b) in rat male reproductive tissues during sexual maturation and under different treatments by in situ hybridization. Methods: Testis, epididymis, and vas deferens were collected on days 1‐70 to examine Itm2b expression during sexual maturation. To further examine the regulation of Itm2b, adult rats underwent surgical castration and cryptorchidism. Ethylene dimethane sulfonate and busulfan treatments were carried out to test the regulation of Itm2b after destruction of Leydig cells and germ cells. Results: In testis, Itm2b expression was moderately detected in the adluminal area of seminiferous cords on days 1‐10, and detected at a low level in the spermatogonia on days 20 and 30. The Itm2b level was markedly increased in Leydig cells from day 20 to day 70. In epididymis and vas deferens, Itm2b was detected from neonate to adults, and the signal gradually increased in accordance with sexual maturation. Itm2b expression was significantly downregulated in epididymis and vas deferens of castrated rats, and strongly stimulated when castrated rats were treated with testosterone. Cryptorchidism led to a significant decline of Itm2b expression in testis and caput epididymis. Itm2b expression in epididymis and vas deferens was significantly decreased after the Leydig cells were destroyed by ethylene dimethane sulfonate. Busulfan treatment produced no obvious change in Itm2b expression in epididymis or vas deferens. Conclusion: Our data suggested that Itm2b expression is upregulated by testosterone and might play a role in rat male reproduction.